Giant inflatable tennis dome courts complaints

Caravan owners in Stonehaven did not mind an occasional wayward shot from neighbouring tennis courts bouncing off a roof - but they say a new giant inflatable dome is an entirely different ball game.

The green structure is aimed at allowing play regardless of any bad Scottish weather over the winter months.

The constructors describe the facility - which has council planning permission to stand between September and April - as "world class".

However, some with caravans next to the dome told BBC Scotland News their seaside views have now been obstructed.

Bob Cowie can see the dome from his caravan window

Bob Cowie's caravan neighbours the huge dome, which is 36m (118ft) long, 34m (112ft) wide and 9m (30ft) high.

The view from his window is now blocked.

He said it should have gone up after the caravan season ends in a few weeks.

''Before, I used to get a lovely view across Stonehaven," Mr Cowie, 79, from Aberdeen, said.

"Even with the children and adults playing tennis there were no problems. Occasionally a ball would bounce off the caravan, but that didn't bother us.

"We were aware the dome was going to go up but we were told it would go up after the caravan season finished, when we weren't here. They've put it up while we're still here and the workmen are walking through the site."

He said for caravaners a top priority is a "stress-free" nice site with a lovely view.

"When you get something like that, it's like if a lorry was going to come to your door, a high-sider, and park outside and block out the sunlight, you wouldn't be happy.''

Caravan owner Ian Armstrong said generators are also noisy

Ian Armstrong, 58, from Aberdeen, also has a caravan on the site, which closes for the season on 31 October.

He said: 'We've got the noise of the generator.

"If it went up on the 31st (of October) and came down it wouldn't affect us, we wouldn't have a problem. We would support it.

"But we're not going to support it when it's sitting in somebody's back garden and they can't see out their living room window. They're just looking into a big green tent."

Bruce McIver welcomed the dome's benefits

Bruce McIver, the head coach at Stonehaven Tennis Club, said he hoped the dome would result in more people playing more tennis more often.

"I realise there's a bit of disquiet, but most of what I've read has been pretty positive," he said.

"I would like to think that overall it's going to be a great benefit and a great new facility for the town."

He added: "As far as I am aware, that's what the plan is for the coming years, that it will go up for six months, and come down for six months, from the end of September until the start of April."

Peter Brown said the dome was good for the community

Peter Brown is operations director for Covair Structures, which is behind the construction of the dome.

"This is a world class facility, I don't think you get away from that," he said. "This dome is designed to withstand up to 120mph winds.

"It's fully-heated as well in the winter and I think it gives the community in Stonehaven a real chance to step forward in to tennis.

"For all the youth, imagine standing outside in February on the beach here playing tennis? It's going to be pretty cold so to have this facility here, I think, is a fantastic opportunity."

Aberdeenshire Council confirmed the development was approved from the last Friday in September until the second Friday in April.